Relationship between domains of physical activity and cardiac autonomic modulation in adults: a cross-sectional study
William R. Tebar, Raphael Mendes Ritti‐Dias, Jorge Mota, Breno Quintella Farah, Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, Tatiana M. M. Damato, Leandro D. Delfino, Beatriz A. S. Aguilar, Amanda B. Santos, Stefany Carolaine Bezerra Silva, Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei, Diego Giulliano Destro Christófaro
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the relationship of physical activity in different domains with cardiac autonomic modulation in adults. A sample of 252 adults was randomly selected, with mean age of 42.1 (± 16.5) years, being 58% of women. Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed through indexes of heart rate variability in time (SDNN, RMSSD) and frequency (LF, HF) domains for linear method, and by Poincaré plot for non-linear method (SD1, SD2 components). Domains of PA (occupation, sport, leisure time/commuting, and total) were assessed by Baecke's questionnaire. Variables of age, gender, socioeconomic status (questionnaire) and body mass index (objectively measures) were covariates. Occupational PA was positively related to LF (β = 2.39, 95% CI 0.24; 4.54), sports PA was positively related to SDNN (β = 3.26, 95% CI 0.18; 7.05), RMSSD (β = 4.07, 95% CI 0.31; 7.85), and SD1 (β = 2.85, 95% CI 0.11; 5.81), and leisure time/commuting PA was positively related to SDNN (β = 3.36, 95% CI 0.28; 6.70) and RMSSD (β = 3.53, 95% CI 0.46; 7.52) indexes. Total PA was related to RMSSD (β = 1.70, 95% CI 0.04; 3.72). Sports, leisure time/commuting, and total PA were related to higher parasympathetic modulation, while occupational PA was related to higher sympathetic modulation to the heart in adults.